RACINE - The debate of property rights versus historic preservation was at the heart of Monday's meeting for a proposed Southside historic district.

The city is proposing establishing a historic district, which would require property owners to preserve the initial design of the building using original materials whenever possible.

The district would go from Eighth Street to DeKoven Avenue and would be bordered roughly by Lake Michigan and Villa Street.

But it's a proposal that did not make a lot a residents happy at Monday's meeting.

"I think you guys are taking an existing property right from me and you are using it for the 'public good' which I am receiving no compensation," said Laurence Byrnes, of 1801 College Ave.

His comments were followed with cheers from the 100-person audience that attended the Landmarks Preservation Commission Monday at City Hall, 730 Washington Ave. Of those 100 in attendance, about 30 spoke, and majority of them were against the proposed district.

Lori Manly-Hart said after the meeting that she was going to put up a for sale sign outside her house so that she would not have to live in the district if it came about.

Manly-Hart said she doesn't know how she could afford to make historically-sound repairs to her house at 1708 College Ave.

"Are you going to take it from me?" she asked the commission.

Residents could use replica material instead of synthetic material, Director of City Development Brian O'Connell said. Also he said residents could appeal to the City Plan Commission and the City Council if they couldn't afford certain materials.

Other residents did not adamantly oppose the district as much as Manly-Hart and Byrnes, but they said the city needs to provide "carrots" for people living in the district such as tax incentives. Others also said the city needs to require all properties in the district to follow building requirements rather than just those that the city has designated as historic.

After listening to mostly negatives about the proposed district, Randall Moles said "I've seen a lot of good things lost in Racine. … Sometimes we have to give up a few things to get a few things."

His house at of 1835 Main St. still has a slate roof, which he has preserved.

"It's expensive to maintain, but it's worth it," Moles said.

Commission member Eric Marcus, who is also the president of Preservation Racine, said it's a "difficult balance."

"We have to balance the interest of property owners with the community's interest in historic preservation," he said.

The commission did not vote on the proposed district Monday. They will be meeting again July 6 on the topic.

Comments from the audience

Pros

"We have many fabulous buildings that are unique to Racine and I think we should do our best to preserve them." - Irene Greeley

"If you have a historic district it could add value to your homes." - Annette Haropole

Cons

"The people who own the properties … should be the ones who make the decisions and no one else." - Dan Mekemson

"This is mostly about elites thinking they know better and taking away property rights." - Dennis Navratil